Buses to get smartphone compatibility

Published 2:24 pm Friday, June 24, 2011

Kitsap Transit riders will soon be able to track where their bus is in real-time – so long as they have a smartphone or access to a computer with Internet.

Kitasp Transit’s Board of Commissioners approved a plan Tuesday that will include incorporating a program into buses to receive an accurate count of passengers that get on and off at every stop, as well as including the bus-tracking system for passengers to navigate on their smartphones or computers. They expect it to be installed and operating in about eight to 10 weeks, said John Clauson, service development director for the transit agency.

Clauson did not know the percentage of riders who own a smartphone but said that several kiosks will be installed at some bus stops for riders to check up on bus times as well.

“Not everyone has a smartphone but when (the rider’s older cell phone) breaks, the owner will be able to get a smartphone,” Clauson said. “Our system will be around for awhile.”

The commissioners moved to amend the resolution to include having automatic passenger counters on the entire fleet of buses — around 120 routed buses and worker-driver buses — and adjusted the maximum cost of the project to not exceed $375,000. In the original resolution, the counters were to be installed in 32 buses costing about $209,819.

Having an accurate count of where passengers get on and off will help the transit agency plan for service improvements such as where to place shelters or a bus stop that could be removed because of minimal use, Clauson said. The new system will also help with filing necessary reports to the federal government, he said.